Charley Webb has shared an emotional glimpse into her grief, opening up about the heartbreaking moment she said her final goodbye to her mum following her tragic death on Mother’s Day.
The former Emmerdale star, best known for playing Debbie Dingle, has been navigating an incredibly difficult few weeks after losing her beloved mum, Helen, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
Now, Charley has shared that she recently took the difficult step of visiting her mum in the chapel of rest, something she admitted she felt strongly about doing, even knowing how tough it might be.
Taking to Instagram, she shared the emotional experience with her followers, writing: ‘I went to see my mum today in the chapel of rest.’
She acknowledged that it’s not something everyone chooses to do, but for her, it felt like an important part of saying goodbye. ‘I know not everyone wants to do that when someone passes but it felt important for me.’
Despite preparing herself for the visit, Charley admitted the reality of the moment was far more overwhelming than she had expected. ‘It was actually much harder than I thought it would be and saying goodbye nearly broke me but I’m SO relieved I did it.’
Her words paint a raw and honest picture of grief, one that many people will sadly recognise. That mix of heartbreak and relief, of knowing something is incredibly painful but also necessary, is something Charley didn’t shy away from sharing.
The loss has been felt deeply across her family. Charley and her soap star brother, Jamie Lomas, were left devastated by their mum’s passing, which came after a 12-year struggle with Alzheimer’s, a condition that had gradually taken so much from her over time.
Jamie previously shared a few words in a touching social media tribute, opening up about how difficult the journey had been for them all. ‘Sadly we lost our beautiful mum today on Mother’s Day.’
He went on to reflect on the long impact of the illness, writing: ‘After a 12 year battle with Alzheimer’s, she finally decided it was time to leave us. For anyone who knows what it’s like to have someone with this awful illness, you will know that you lose them not once but twice.’
It’s a sentiment that resonates with many families affected by Alzheimer’s, the slow, painful process of watching a loved one change over time.
‘Our mum was always so strong and to watch her over the years slowly turn into someone who is just a shell of who they once were is very difficult to take and watch,’ Jamie added.
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His tribute also carried a sense of peace, knowing their mum was no longer suffering. ‘You are now at peace mum and we love you and we will miss you so so much. You were the first person to love me before the world even knew I existed. Good night mum R I P.’
He also took a moment to thank those who had cared for her through the years, adding: ‘I wanted to say a huge thank you to all the wonderful staff who cared for her on a daily basis and for those who helped her in some way. You truly are all amazing people’.
Charley had previously opened up about just how far her mum’s condition had progressed, revealing in a heartbreaking admission that Helen no longer remembered her name.
In the midst of her grief, Charley has been leaning on those closest to her. She recently shared a glimpse of that support on social media, posting a photo of her close friend Sheridan Smith carrying her son.
Alongside the image, she wrote: ‘My little team have been looking after me.’
